In the foothills of Washington’s Olympic Mountains, an ambitious new motorsport destination is taking shape on paper and through years of development work. Circuit of the Northwest (CNW), planned for the Port of Bremerton, aims to bring a Hermann Tilke-designed road course, private garage condominiums, and an upscale automotive social club to the Pacific Northwest.
The vision is larger than a place to drive fast cars. CNW is being developed as a community where collectors can keep their cars near the track, spend time with other enthusiasts, enjoy clubhouse dining, and take part in driving programs and major public events. However, as of October 2026, the circuit and proposed member facilities are not yet open. Construction has been delayed, and the projected grand opening remains a future target.
A Luxury Motorsport Community Planned Near Seattle
CNW is planned for a roughly 232-acre site at the Port of Bremerton, near Bremerton National Airport, west of Seattle and Tacoma. The property offers a landscape that is unusually well suited to a destination racing circuit: natural elevation changes, broad views of the Olympic Mountains, and room for both driving and social facilities.
The private-club concept calls for a mix of member track days, professional driving instruction, trackside garage spaces, and a clubhouse where owners and guests can gather after a session on the circuit. The developer has also proposed public events, entertainment, and community programming, giving the project a broader role than a members-only racing venue.
Founder Brian Nilsen has deep ties to the region’s powersports and motocross communities. According to CNW’s published team biography, his background includes Brothers Powersports, Motowest, and the Pac West MX racing series. His goal is to establish a destination that serves both serious drivers and the wider motorsport community.
Watch the Circuit of the Northwest Project Video
The following promotional video offers a look at the project’s original concept and proposed facilities. It should be viewed as a development presentation, not footage of a completed and operating racing club.
A Hermann Tilke-Designed Racetrack in the Olympic Foothills
At the center of the project is a road course designed by Hermann Tilke, the German circuit architect whose firm has worked on major Formula 1 venues worldwide. For collectors who enjoy performance driving, that design pedigree is one of CNW’s biggest attractions.
Current CNW materials describe an approximately 2.34- to 2.4-mile course with three driving configurations and roughly 80 to 85 feet of natural elevation change. Earlier promotional materials described a 2.66-mile, 14-turn circuit. Those differences reflect evolving published plans, so the latest approximate layout figures should not be treated as final as-built specifications.
The developer has promoted an FIA Grade 3 design objective and aspirations for professionally sanctioned motorsport. That is different from a completed track holding a current FIA homologation certificate. CNW is not an operating Formula 1 circuit, and an FIA Grade 3 design is not the same as Formula 1 approval.
Concept rendering of the proposed Hermann Tilke-designed circuit and clubhouse at Circuit of the Northwest.
For members, the proposed experience includes instruction for a range of skill levels, multiple course configurations, and a substantial annual allocation of track days. CNW currently advertises a goal of approximately 150 member track days a year once the facility is operating. Actual schedules will depend on the finished venue and its future calendar of events.
Trackside Car Condos, Private Garages, and Collector Living
The most interesting part of CNW for many car collectors may be what happens away from the racing line. Plans include customizable private garages and trackside condominium-style spaces where owners could store and enjoy their collections within a dedicated motorsport setting.
The project’s published garage concepts offer configurations of approximately 30 by 40 feet, 60 by 40 feet, and 90 by 40 feet, with features such as vehicle lifts and upper-level decks described in marketing materials. Garage services, vehicle detailing, and social gathering areas are also part of the proposed development.
Architectural concept showing proposed luxury garage condominium living at Circuit of the Northwest; the facility has not yet been built.
Earlier CNW materials used the name Autominium for the idea of combining automotive space with private condominium-style amenities. Today, the concept is more clearly presented through member-only trackside garage and condominium opportunities. Buyers should confirm the precise ownership structure, specifications, pricing, and construction timetable directly with the developer before making any commitment.
Inside the Proposed 28,000-Square-Foot Motorsport Clubhouse
The proposed 28,000-square-foot private clubhouse would serve as the social center of the motorsport community. CNW envisions a restaurant and bar, gathering spaces, business meeting areas, and wellness facilities overlooking the circuit and Olympic Mountain scenery.
The idea is that a member could spend the morning learning a new racing line, have lunch with friends, and return in the afternoon to a private garage or social event. Family members and guests are central to the lifestyle pitch, too. The club is being marketed as a place to build friendships around cars, not simply rent track time.
Beyond the private amenities, CNW’s wider master plan has included concepts for concerts, festivals, automotive showcases, karting, driver education, and other public activities. A July 2026 business report also described a broader proposal involving a hotel, retail, an amphitheater, and additional event venues. These remain development plans rather than currently available attractions.
Construction Timeline and the Latest 2026 Development News
CNW has been in development for years, and several early construction forecasts have come and gone. The original project materials referenced groundbreaking activity in 2019 and an anticipated construction start in 2021. Those dates should now be understood as part of the project’s history, not its current construction schedule.
In July 2026, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported that the developer described the approximately 232-acre project as 94% financed, with $107.92 million in documented financing commitments. These figures were reported as the developer’s account of its funding progress; they do not by themselves establish that financing has fully closed or that major construction has begun.
Records associated with the Port of Bremerton’s July 14, 2026 meeting indicated that final design work was more than 90% complete and that construction mobilization was being targeted for the first quarter of 2027. CNW’s published materials continue to identify 2028 as the projected opening year. Both milestones remain subject to financing, approvals, construction, and other changes.
The project has also identified relationships with construction and entertainment specialists, including Mortenson and ASM Global. These associations help explain the scale of the proposed venue, but they should not be confused with confirmation of an opening date.
Founding Memberships and What Prospective Members Should Know
Although the track is not yet operating, CNW continues to invite inquiries about its Founding Membership program. Published member benefits include preferential access to future private garages and condominiums, member events, private areas, driving activities, and opportunities to connect with other automotive enthusiasts before the proposed grand opening.
Earlier promotional material listed an initiation fee of $55,000 and annual dues of $5,000. Those figures are historical and should not be considered verified 2026 membership pricing. The current public membership pages promote early-member terms but do not publish a complete, confirmed schedule of current initiation fees, dues, refund rights, or purchase conditions.
Anyone considering membership or a garage reservation should request written details covering the current fee schedule, deposit and cancellation policies, membership transfer rules, ownership documentation, construction contingencies, and what benefits are available before the facility opens.
CNW’s official membership information page and its founding membership FAQ are useful starting points for prospective members.
A New Chapter for Pacific Northwest Car Collectors
If the plans become reality, Circuit of the Northwest could give the region a distinctive combination of professional-grade circuit design, collector-car garage ownership, and an upscale motorsport social community. It is a concept that connects the track-focused energy of a driving club with the more relaxed appeal of a private automotive retreat.
For now, CNW is a pre-construction motorsport development with an ambitious master plan, ongoing membership marketing, and a target opening in 2028. Its next important milestones will be confirmed financing, mobilization of major construction, and the delivery of the first operational facilities.
Location, Membership Inquiries, and Contact Information
Project: Circuit of the Northwest (CNW)
Location: Port of Bremerton, near Bremerton National Airport, Bremerton, Washington
Status as of October 2026: Pre-construction; projected opening in 2028
Website: circuitofthenorthwest.com
General inquiries: info@circuitofthenorthwest.com
Membership: Official membership inquiry page
The Port of Bremerton property is accessible from the Seattle–Tacoma region by road and ferry connections. Bremerton National Airport is adjacent to the proposed site. Visitors should note that the private racetrack and clubhouse are not presently open for public visits or driving sessions.
Editorial sources: Circuit of the Northwest project website; CNW team biographies; CNW founding membership FAQ; Puget Sound Business Journal, July 2026; Port of Bremerton July 14, 2026 meeting record summary.
